Cafe Dissensus Everyday

The Blog of Cafe Dissensus Magazine – we DISSENT

Two Poems

Painting: Mike Klung

By Tikuli

Solitude

I linger unperceived
in the labyrinth of solitude,
not knowing the onward path
or the path of my return
I see a flight of stairs
a portal to a past forgotten
the contours of shadows
create a landscape of dreams
something forgotten stirs,
a lost memory returns
from between somewhere and nowhere
seeking something nebulous
that is always out of reach

***

Insomnia 

two a.m. on Delhi’s post-rain Sunday
I try to wash away the sleepiness
from my insomnia laden eyes
pick a fresh sheet of paper
spread clean water till it sheens
like fresh snow on a sunny day
clean and load the brushes with colours
drop and watch in wonderment
as the colours bleed and waltz
into the white stillness
the ripe colours of autumn,
a drop of sea, the harvest fields,
the washes of sunsets layer after layer
and a moon laid on lake waters
a tender breath of green
a river filled with apparitions,
here now – then gone
wet roads winding around echoing hills
the crisp autumn breeze
floating across the valley
steam rising from a coffee left at the deck
my eyes closed I feel the calm glow
of lights at the water edge
the silent shadows
the peace of the submerged river banks
I dip my brush again as the pigeons rise
followed by the squirrel
and the upstairs neighbour
pounding fresh ginger for morning chai
the trees rise, the day rises
night slowly walks towards summer morning

Bio:
Tikuli is an internationally published poet, author and blogger from Delhi whose work has appeared in print and online literary magazines including Le Zaporogue, MiCROW 8, The Smoking Book (Poets Wear Prada Press, US), Life And legends, Levure Littéraire 10, The Enchanting Verses Literary Review, Open Road Review, Cafe Dissensus, Mnemosyne Literary Journal, Dissident Voice, Women’s Web, Tuck Magazine,  The Criterion, Peregrine Muse, Knot Magazine, Asian Signature Magazine, The Bombay Review, The Thumb Print – A Magazine From The East, The Peacock Journal and The Peacock Journal Anthology, TEKSTO- The People’s Magazine, Guntur National Poetry Festival Anthology, Melange – a Potpourri of thoughts, Le Zaporogue Print editions and the much acclaimed Chicken Soup For The Indian Romantic Soul(Westland). Her debut poetry book, Collection of Chaos, was published in 2014 by Leaky Boot Press. Her second book of poems Wayfaring was published in 2017 by Leaky Boot Press. Her third book of poems Duets, written in collaboration with James Goddard, was released in November 2018. She blogs here.

***

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Cafe Dissensus Everyday is the blog of Cafe Dissensus magazine, based in New York City and India. All materials on the site are protected under Creative Commons License.

***

Read the latest issue of Cafe Dissensus Magazine, “Revisiting the Partition of India”, edited by Kamayani Kumar, University of Delhi, India.

72 Responses to “Two Poems”

  12. The Constant Reader's avatar The Constant Reader

    Beautiful writing that speaks volumes to your creativity, imagination, and visualization as a poet. (:

    Reply
  19. HaydenB's avatar HaydenB

    Insomnia can really add problems to your life. It’s unfortunate that so many individuals suffer from it.

    Reply
  22. MamaBuzz's avatar Mama Buzz

    Thanks for this post. Awesome work. I like the lines you said..I linger in the labyrinth of solitude, not knowing the onward path or the path of my return! On spot! Great one!

    Reply
  28. thanisamanyan's avatar thanisamanyan

    Nicely done with confidence. I sought rapture in famous poets of past but right here in the blog mastery seen and someday it shall be mine.

    Reply
  32. parasshiva's avatar parasshiva

    Each word has a unique importance and the way in which they are interlinked in something which requires a level of intellect. Marvellous! 🙂👍👍

    Reply
  49. Artistic Fox's avatar Artistic Fox

    This was beautiful! I really enjoyed it! I really like to write too, in fact my most recent post was also a poem! LOL!

    Reply

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